Page 161 of Christmas off Script

‘Okay, okay, well it’s brekkie and family presents in an hour downstairs, then church at eleven! Maybe you could persuade Eveline to marry you today?’

Leo rolled his eyes. ‘It takes at least a month to read the banns, Dad.’

‘Well, you’d better get a move on then,’ he replied. ‘I want—’

‘If you mention grandchildren one more time in this house,’ Leo interrupted, ‘we’re all getting vasectomies.’

Arthur gasped and put his hands over his crotch. ‘Blasphemy!’

Leo steered him towards the door. ‘We’ll see you downstairs in a bit.’

‘Okay, okay,’ he grumbled, then gave Ella a wave. ‘Congratulations again, my dear! The family will be thrilled!’

Closing the door behind his father, Leo rejoined Ella on the bed and took her hands, pleasure rushing through him at the sight of the ring on her finger.

‘They’re all going to be as happy as I am that we’re getting married,’ he said. ‘And I bet Mammy says, “About time”, too.’

‘You know, I even thinkmydad will be pleased.’

‘He is.’

‘Huh?’

‘I asked his permission a couple of days ago and showed him the ring.’

‘Oh, Leo, thank you,’ she whispered, as her eyes shone with happy tears. ‘Thank you,’ she repeated.

Leo’s heart overflowed and his own eyes pricked with emotion. ‘Come here.’ He took her into his arms. ‘I love you. You’re my everything.’

She held him tightly back. ‘I love you too.’

‘Best Christmas ever?’

‘Definitely. Nothing can top this.’

‘How about winning the Christmas quiz next year, then getting married on Christmas Day?’

Pulling her head back to gaze at him, Ella grinned. ‘If you can wait that long?’

‘I’ve already waited half a lifetime for you,’ he said softly. ‘Three hundred and sixty-four days isn’t that much more.’ He frowned. ‘Although, saying it out loud, three hundred and sixty-four days sounds way too long.’

She smiled. ‘I feel like we’ve got all the time in the world. As if my life is beginning again.’

‘And I’m going to be by your side, every step of the way.’

He lowered his mouth to hers in a soulful kiss, and she kissed him back as if he was the source of all her happiness. Leo drank in her love, returning it tenfold. Ella was all his Christmases wrapped up into one. She was a perfect, magical gift, and he was going to spend the rest of his life loving and treasuring her.

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